Eagle Ridge has unfinished business

The Eagle Ridge Christian girls basketball team is ready to go back to the state tournament and settle some unfinished business.

Eagle Ridge finished fourth in the Missouri Christian Schools Activities Association state tournament last year after a second-place finish the year before. With four returning starters, Eagle Ridge has a chance to come home with the top prize this year.

"We don't like second place," said coach Donna Powell, who led the team to a title four years ago. "We like first.

"We're probably a more cohesive team than we were last year, and we're probably in better shape than any team I've coached."

With juniors Autumn Crowden and Rachel Huebel joined by sophomore Chelsea Clark and 5-foot-10 eighth-grader Kristen Margrabe, Eagle Ridge has nearly its entire starting lineup back. Senior Savanna Irizarry and freshman Andria Patrick also are returning players.

Crowden gets much of the attention from opposing teams, but Margrabe may be ready for a breakthrough season.

"Autumn is often double-teamed," Powell said. "I think the eighth-grader has improved tremendously and should add some inside scoring. I hope she keeps growing."

Eagle Ridge opened the season Monday (Nov. 22) against Murphysboro, Ill., Christian.